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Does anyone have any tips to make, or an actual tool I could see to do this job? You could actually buy one once..I figure 2 razor blades set at 30degrees or so in a block to prepare the crack and cut the fresh spruce splice as well. Anyone?

I don't think the razor blades is a good idea because they are too flimsy. Take a knife blade (like an Exacto blade) and grind it into a slight taper and hone the back edge of it flat so that it has sharp 90 degree edges. Then scrape the crack pulling the knife blade backwards, cutting the wood with those sharp edges. The width of the crack is controlled by how deeply you plunge the blade, but work you way down slowly until the crack has an even width, tapering to nothing at the ends.

Make the splint with a sharp chisel starting with a slightly wide piece of spruce. An alternative is to shape the splint with a scraper that is held off the workbench with a couple of strips of veneer to control the width. The splint should have a taper that matches the crack. Glue the splint with HHG.

I seem to remember that either LMI or Stewmac were selling a splice tool. I think it was a V chisel on a wheeled carrier that would cut out the damaged area, and then used on repair material to cut a patch. Couldn't find it on either site, so I might be mistaken, or it isn't sold any longer.

Alex

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I use a 60degree V gouge but it takes a bit of practice to keep things even.

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